Rotary for drilling wells



May 9, 1950 J. D. BENNETT ROTARY FOR DRILLING WELLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 17, 1947 1/0/70 0. Ben/7e z z INVENTOR MM ATTORNEY May 9, 1950 ,7 J. D. BENNETT ROTARY FOR DRILLING WELLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 17, 1947 ,r. V T e 0 M n 0 nm M m e V M w B m 7 A 0. n L M L MN Q 3 m J/A V11 F m J w QM: z N r A A m,\ A w w Q N\ Q 7 Q T @w Nb 3 l E A H.l1 1 "HQ 1 -iww 5 5 J a Q Q Q 9 @N H 1 3w Q h i Q vb .Q R N mum fi b NW N 1 wn QN N 5 Patented May 9, 1950 ROTARY FOB, DRILLING WELLS John D. Bennett, Beaumont, Tex, assignor to International Derrick & Equipment Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 1'7, 1947, Serial No. 729,154

11 Claims.

The invention concerns a rotary having a rotary table which is rotatably supported. in a base and is driven by a horizontally disposed drive shaft having a pinion gear on one end thereof adapted to engage a ring gear secured to the rotary table.

The invention concerns more particularly a novel arrangement for supporting the rotary table in the base and for accomplishing other purposes which will be more fully described.

It is an object of the invention to provide an arrangement in which the bearings supporting the rotary table are positioned in substantially the same horizontal plane as the teeth of the ring gear and the uppermost teeth of the pinion ear. This arrangement is desirable in order to avoid any tendency of the force exerted by the pinion gear to tilt the table. Such a tendency normally exists in arrangements in which the bearings supporting the table are positioned at a lower elevation than the driving gears, the horizontal thrust exerted by the pinion gear tending to throw the upper part of the table horizontally while the lower part of the table remains in fixed position. The condition described causes undue wear of the parts which act to retain the table in the base.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an arrangement in which the bearings supporting the rotary table are positioned in the upper part of the rotary and are protected against mud and water which may be thrown upwardly into the rotary from the well being drilled.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an arrangement in which the bearings supporting the rotary table are positioned above and supported by a retaining ring which is removably secured to the base and is adapted to retain the table in the base, the arrangement being such that the table, the bearings and the retaining ring may be assembled as a unit and the entire assembly may be inserted in and withdrawn from the base at one time.

Other advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a top view of a rotary embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view in elevation. In the lower left hand portion of the drawing a part of the apparatus is shown as viewed from the exterior, the remainder of the drawing being a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, a base is provided, the base being shaped generally like a rectangular box and having a pair of side walls I, a pair of end walls 2, at op wall 3 and a bottom wall 4. One end of the base is open at the bottom, while of end walls 2, a top wall 3 and a bottom wall 4. The base is supported on a pair of runners 5 which are joined at one end by a turned up portion .5 and are adapted to serve as a skid. The turned up portion 6 extends outwardly from the end wall 2 and is joined thereto by a lug I which is provided with an opening 8 adapted to be engaged by a towing or lifting device. U. S. Patent No. 2,276,561, dated March 17, 1942, and issued to Richard R. Bloss, describes and claims an arrangement which includes these features.

A circular well is formed in the base adapted to receive a rotary table. The well is of smaller diameter at the bottom than at the top and is formed by an annular wall 9 which extends upwardly from the bottom of the base, an annular wall It which extends downwardly from the top of the base, and a connecting ring 1 I which connects the annular walls 9 and it]. The connecting ring H is depressed adjacent the periphery of the upwardly extending wall 8 and extends outwardly and upwardly from a point near the top thereof to form an annular gutter l2. The walls 9 and H3 and the ring H are formed integrally with the side walls I, the top wall 3 and the bottom wall a, and are supported on the runners 5 by ribs it which extend inwardly from the side walls l and which also support the side walls I and the bottom wall 4.

A rotary table is provided which has a circular top it and a depending annular wall l5, the depending wall being of smaller diameter than the top i l. The lower end of the depending wall it is receivable in the upwardly extending wall 9. A ring it extends outwardly from the depending wall 25, and an annular groove l! is formed in the depending wall l5 adjacent the outwardly extending ring it adapted to receive the top of the upwardly extending wall 9. A retaining ring it extends inwardly from the connecting ring H, above the annular gutter l2, and is adapted to slidably engage the outwardly extending ring it to retain the rotary table in the base. The retaining ring it is removably secured to the connecting ring H by a series of bolts H). The walls of the connecting ring II are thickened adjacent the bolts 59. The upper ends of the bolts as are screwed into the retaining ring l8 and are permanently secured thereto by brazing applied to the ends thereof within depressions 20 which are formed in the upper side of the retaining ring [8.

The retaining ring I8 is formed in two halves which are fastened together by bolts after they are placed in position about the depending wall l5 above the outwardly extending ring l6. An outer race ring 2! is secured to the upper side of the retaining ring ilBzand an inner racefring 22 is secured to the under side of the tabletop I 4. Ball bearings 23, having a spacing ring 24, are positioned between the race rings 2! and 22 and are adapted to rotatably supportwtherotary table. The arrangement is such that the rotary table, the bearings and the retaining ring l8 may be assembled as a unit and the entire-assembly may be inserted in and withdrawn from the base at one time.

A ring gear 25 is secured to the under side of the table top l4 adjacent its periphery. A horizontally disposed drive shaft 25 is rotatably mounted in the base, as hereinafter described.

A pinion gear 2! is secured to one end of the drive shaft '26 and is rotatable therewith. The

"pinion gear 21 projects thru an opening in the downwardly extending annular 'wall and the connecting ring H and is adaptedto'engage the ring gear '25 to-rotate the rotary table.

The drive shaft 25- extends thru the center of and is 'rotatably mounted in a horizontally disposed cylindrical housing 28, the drive shaft 26 and the housing 28 being assembled as a unit and inserted thru anopening-ZS in an end wall 2. The housing 28 is provided at its ends with shoulders 30 adapted to support-the housing 28 in the opening 29and an opening 3| formed in an inner wall'32. A flange 33 is formed on the outer end of the housing 28 and is secured tothe end wall Zby a series of bolts 34. The inner end of the drive shaft 25 is-rotatably supported in the housing 28 by'roller bearings '35 which have inner and outer race rings 36 and 31. A retaining ring 38, which is secured to the inner end of the housing 28 by a series of bolts39, acts'toretain the bearings in thei'iousing '28. The outer end of the drive shaft 25 is rotatably supported in the housing 28 by roller bearings 35 which have inner and outer race rings '4! and 42. An oil-seal 53 is "provided at the outer end of the bearings 45, "and a retaining ring 54, which is secured to the outer end of the housing 28 by a series of bolts 45, acts to retain'thebearings lfl in the housing 28.

A sprocket is keyed on the tapered outer end of the driveshaft Zli'and is secured thereto by a retaining nut 41 which is screwed on the end of the drive shaft 26 and additionally secured thereto'by a cap-screw 48 t0 prevent'the retaining nut 41 from unscrewing due to vibration.

The rotary is lubricated by an oil bath system, the base-being filled with oil to a level snfiicient to immerse at'least the lowermost teeth of the pinion gear 21. An oil reservoir -49 is formed in the base adjacent the pinion gearzl, and a dis- 'Oil is circulated in the bottom of the housing 28 and the bottom wall '5 for draining the interior 'of the housing 2.3 and theiportion .of the base which surrounds it.

The annular gutter I2 is .provided with a discharge opening 54 which communicates with the oil reservoir 49. In operation the pinion gear 21 picks up oil from the oil reservoir 49 and carries it upwardly to the ring gear 25, from which oil is splashed over the .ball bearings 23 and the oil collecting gutter 5|. Oil draining from the ball bearings 23 is collected in the annular gutter l2 and returned to the reservoir 49 thru the discharge-opening 54.

A locking ring 55 is secured about the periphery of the table top l4. Slots 55 are formed in the periphery of the locking ring 55 adapted to receive a locking pin 5'1. The locking pin 5'! is retained in a slot 53 formed in the base, and is adapted to be moved longitudinally in and out of locking engagement with the slots 56. A lever "59 is secured to the outer end of the locking pin 5? and is receivable in either of two slots 60, which extend transversely with respect to the slot 58, to secure the locking pin 51 in operative and inoperative positions, respectively. This arrangement is described and claimed in a patent to knock back any lubricating 'oil that may be splashed upwardly against it. U. S. Patent No.

2,276,561, dated March 1'7, 1942, and issued to .RichardR. Bloss, describes and claims an arrangement which includes these features. A

:guard ring is'secured to the top 'wall 3 about the table top M, above the locking ring 55.

The working parts of the rotary are entirely enclosed "and are protected against mud and water which'may comein contact with the rotary. The arrangement is such that most of the mud and 'water that falls on top of the rotary will run :oifthc sides. The space between the table top M and the guard ring 55 is small, and the ar- :rangement.is such that'mud and water which may pass downwardly thru such spacewill not come contact with the driving gears or the bearings. .Likewise mud and water whichmay be thrown upwardly into the rotary from the well being drilled, and which may enter the space between ':the upwardly extending annular wall 9 and the depending wall IE, will collect in the annular gutter i2 and be discharged therefrom without comingin contact with the driving gears or the bearings.

The rotary table is provided with a central opening adapted to receive either a Kelly drive or a pair of slips. The drawing shows a Kelly drive 66, which is formed in two halves fastened together by bolts 61. The upper part of the central opening, indicated by the numeral 68, is

generally circular in shape and a series of radially spaced slots 59 are formed in the wall surrounding the opening adapted to engage corresponding lugs H! which are formed about the periphery of the Kelly drive 56. The wall surrounding a middle portion of the central opening, indicated by the numeral H, is tapered and is adapted to receive a air of slips. The wall surrounding the extreme lower part of the central opening, indicated by the numeral 12, is adapted .to engage a shoulder 13 formed on the lower end 'of'the Kelly drive 56. The exterior'surface of the Kelly drive 65 does not engage the wall surrounding the middle portion of the central opening, indicated at 12, the tapered surface at this point being reserved for engagement by the slips. This arrangement is described and claimed in a patent application of Richard R. Bloss, Serial No. 751,673.

The invention as described herein may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A rotary for drilling wells comprising a base having an upwardly extending annular wall, a rotary table having a circular top and a depending annular wall of smaller diameter than the top, the lower end of the depending wall being reeeivable in the upwardly extending wall, a ring extending outwardly from the depending wall, a ring extending outwardly and upwardly from a point near the top of the upwardly extending wall, a retaining ring removably secured to and extending inwardly from the last mentioned ring adapted to slidably engage the outwardly extending ring to retain the rotary table in the base, bearings positioned above and supported by the retaining ring adapted to rotatably support the rotary table, and a ring gear secured to the under side of the table top adjacent its periphery, the bearings supporting the rotary table being positioned in substantially the same horizontal plane as the teeth of the ring gear.

2. A rotary for drilling wells comprising a base having a circular well adapted to receive a rotary table, the well being of smaller diameter at the bottom than at the top and being formed by an annular wall extending upwardly from the bottom of the base, an annular wall extending downwardly from the top of the base and a connecting ring connecting the annular walls, the connecting ring being depressed adjacent the periphcry of the upwardly extending wall and extending outwardly and upwardly from a point near the top of the upwardly extending wall to form an annular gutter, a rotary table having a circular top and a depending annular wall of smaller diameter than the top, the lower end of the depending wall being receivable in the upwardly extending wall, a ring extending outwardly from the depending wall, an annular groove in the depending wall adjacent the outwardly extending ring adapted to receive the top of the upwardly extending wall, a retaining ring removably secured to the connecting ring and extending inwardly therefrom, above the annular gutter, adapted to slidably engage the outwardly extending ring to retain the rotary table in the base, and bearings positioned above and supported by the retaining ring adapted to rotatably support the rotary table.

3. A rotary for drilling wells comprising a base having a circular well adapted to receive a rotary table, the well being of smaller diameter at the bottom than at the" top and being formed by an annular wall extending upwardly from the bottom of the base, an annular wall extending downwardly from the top of the base and a connecting ring connecting the annular walls, the connecting ring being depressed adjacent the periphery of the upwardly extending wall and extending outwardly and upwardly from a point near the top of the upwardly extending wall to form an annular gutter, a rotary table having a circular top and a depending annular wall of smaller diameter than the top, the lower end of the depending wall being receivable in the upwardly extending wall, a ring extending outwardly from the depending wall, an annular groove in the depending wall adjacent the outwardly extending ring adapted to receive the top of the upwardly extending wall, a retaining ring removably secured to the connecting ring and extending inwardly therefrom, above the annular gutter, adapted to slidably engage the outwardly extending ring to retain the rotary table in the base, bearings positioned above and supported by the retaining ring adapted to rotatably support the rotary table, a ring gear secured to the under side of the table top adjacent its periphery, a horizontally disposed drive shaft rot'atably mounted in the base and projecting thru an opening formed in the upper part of the well, and a pinion gear secured to one end of the drive shaft and rotatable therewith, the pinion gear being adapted to engage the ring gear to rotate the rotary table.

4. A rotary for drilling wells comprising a base having a circular well adapted to receive a rotary table, the well being of smaller diameter at the bottom than at the top and being formed by an annular wall extending upwardly from the bottom of the base, an annular wall extending downwardly from the top of the base and an outwardly and upwardly extending connecting ring connecting the annular walls, a rotary table having a circular top and a depending annular wall of smaller diameter than the top, the lower end of the depending wall being receivable in the upwardly extending wall, a ring extending outwardly from the depending wall, a retaining ring'removably secured to the connecting ring and extending inwardly therefrom adapted to slidably engage the outwardly extending ring to retain the rotary table in the base, bearings positioned above and supported by the retaining ring adapted to rotatably support the rotary table, and a ring gear secured to the under side of the table top adjacent its periphery, the center line of the bearings being in a horizontal plane which is not lower than the lowermost extremity of the teeth of the ring gear. 5. A rotary for drilling wells comprising base having a circular well adapted to receive a rotary table, the well being of smaller diameter at the bottom than at the top and being formed by an annular wall extending upwardly from the botton of the base, an annular wall extending downwardly from the top of the base and an outwardly and upwardly extending connecting ring connecting the annular walls, the upwardly extending wall extending upwardly to a point not lower than the center line of the rotary, a rotary table having a circular top and a depending annular wall of smaller diameter than the top, the lower end of the depending wall being receivable in the upwardly extending wall and extending downwardly to the lower end thereof, the interior surface of the upwardly extending wall and the exterior surface of the depending wall being cylindrical and concentric and the space between them being restricted, a ring extending outwardly from the depending wall, a retaining ring removably secured to the connecting ring and extending in wardly therefrom adapted to slidably engage the outwardly extending ring to retain the rotary table in the base, bearings positioned above and supported by the retaining ring adapted to rotatably support the rotary table, and a ring gear secured to the under side of the table top adjacent its periphery, the center line of the bearings being in a horizontal plane which is not lower than the lowermost extremity of the teeth of the ring gear and the arrangement being such that mud and water is prevented from reaching the 7 bearings by the elevated'positlon oi the hearings in the base of the rotary and the limited clearance between the upwardly extending wall and the depending wall.

6, A rotary for drilling wells comprising a base having a circular well adapted to receive a rotary table, the well being of smaller diameter at the bottom than at the top and being formed by an annular wall extending upwardly from the bottom of. the base, an annular wall extending downwardly from the top of the base and a connecting ring connecting the annular walls, the connecting ring being depressed adjacent the periphcry of the upwardly extending wall and extending outwardly and upwardly from a point near the top of the upwardly extending wall to form an annular gutter, a rotary table having a circular top and a depending annular wall of smaller diameter than the top, the lower end or" the depending wall being receivable in the upwardly extending wall, a, ring extending out wardly from the depending wall, a retaining ring removably secured to the connecting ring and extending inwardly therefrom, above the annular gutter, adapted to slidably engage the outwardly extending ring to retain the rotary table in the base, bearings positioned above and supported by the retaining ring adapted to rotatably support the rotary table, and a ring gear secured to the under side of the table top adjacent its periphery, the center line of the bearings being in a horizontal plane which is not lower than the lowermost extremity of the teeth of the ring gear.

7. A rotary for drilling wells comprising a base having a circular well adapted to receive a rotary table, the well being of smaller diameter at the bottom than at the top and being formed by an annular wall extending upwardly from the bottom of the base, an annular wall extending downwardly from the top of the base and an outwardl and upwardly extending connecting ring connecting the annular walls, a rotary table having a circular top and a depending annular wall of smaller diameter than the top, the lower end of the depending wall being receivable in the upwardly extending wall, a ring extending outwardly from the depending wall, an annular groove in the depending wall adjacent the on"- wardly extending ring adapted to receive the top of the upwardly extending wall, a retaining ring removably secured to the connecting ring and extending inwardly therefrom adapted to slidahiy engage the outwardly extending ring to retain the rotary table in the base, bearings positioned above and supported by the retaining ring adapted to rotatably support the rotary table, and a ring gear secured to the under side of the table top adjacent its periphery, the center line of the bearings being in a horizontal plane which is not lower than the lowermost extremity of the teeth of the ring gear.

8. A rotary for drilling wells comprising a. base having a circular well adapted to receive a rotary table, the well being of smaller diameter at the bottom than at the top and being formed by an annular wall extending upwardly from the bottom of the base, an annular wall extending downwardly from'the top of the base and a connecting ring connecting the annular walls, the connecting ring being depressed adjacent the periphery of the upwardly extending wall and extending outwardly and upwardly from a point near the top of the upwardly extending wall to form, an annular gutter, a rotary table having a circular top, and a depending annular wall of smaller diameter than the top, the lower end of the depending wall being receivable in the upwardly extending wall, a ring extending outwardly from the depending wall, an annular groove in the depending wall adjacent the outwardly emending ring adapted to receive the top of the upwardly extending wall, retaining ring removably secured to the connecting ring and extending inwardly therefrom, above the annular gutter, adapted to slidably engage the outwardly extending ring to retain the rotary table in the base, bearings positioned above and supported by the retaining ring adapted to rotatably support the rotary table, a ring gear secured to the under side of the table top adjacent its periphery, the center line of the bearings being in a horizontal plane which is not lower than the lowermost extremity of the teeth of the ring gear, a discharge opening being formed in the annular gutter and the arrangement being such that mud and water which may enter the space between the upwardly extending wall and the depending wall will collect in the annular gutter and be discharged therefrom without coming in contact with the gears or the bearings.

9. A rotary for drilling wells comprising a base having a circular well adapted to receive a rotary table, the well being of smaller diameter at the bottom than at the. top and being formed by an annular wall extending upwardly from the bottom of the base, an annular wall extending downwardly from thetop of the base and an outwardly and upwardly extending connecting ring connecting the annular walls, a rotary table having a circular top and a depending annular wall of smaller diameter than the top, the lower end of the depending wall being receivable in the upwardly extending wall, a ring extending outwardly from the depending wall, a retaining ring removably secured to the connecting ring and extending inwardly therefrom adapted to slidably engage the outwardly extending ring to retain the rotary table in the base, bearings positioned above and supported by the retaining ring adapted to rotatably support the rotary table, a ring gear secured to the under side of the table top adjacent its periphery, a horizontally disposed drive shaft rotatably mounted in the base and a pinion gear secured to one end of the drive shaft and rotatable therewith, the pinion gear being adapted to engage the ring gear to rotate the rotary table, the center line of the bearings being in a horizontal plane which is not lower than the lowermost extremity of the teeth of the ring gear.

10. A rotary for drilling wells comprising a base having a circular well adapted to receive a rotary table, the well being of smaller diameter at the bottom than at the top and being formed by an annular wall extending upwardly from the bottom of the base, an annular wall extending downwardly from the top of the base and an outwardly and upwardly extending connecting ring connecting the annular. walls, a rotary table having a circular top and a depending wall. of smaller diameter than the top, the lower end. of the depending wall being receivable in the upwardly extending wall, a ring extending outvardly from the depending wall, a retaining ring removably secured to the connecting ring and extending inwardly therefrom adapted to slidably engage the outwardly extending ring to retain the rotary table in the base, bearingspositioned abovev and supported by the retaining ring adapted to rotatably support the rotary table,

a ring gear secured to the under side of the table top adjacent its periphery, a horizontally disposed drive shaft rotatably mounted in the base and a pinion gear secured to one end of the drive shaft and rotatable therewith, the pinion gear being adapted to engage the ring gear to rotate the rotary table, the center line of the bearings being in a horizontal plane which is not lower than the lowermost extremity of the teeth of the ring gear, the base having a bottom and side walls forming, with the upwardly extending wall of the well, an oil reservoir partially enclosing the pinion gear and the arrangement being such that in operation the pinion gear picks up oil from the oil reservoir and carries it upwardly to the ring gear, a part of the oil being splashed over the bearings.

11. A rotary for drilling wells comprising a base having a circular well adapted to receive a rotary table, the well being of smaller diameter at the bottom than at the top and being formed by an annular wall extending upwardly from the bottom of the base, an annular wall extending downwardly from the top of the base and a connecting ring connecting the annular walls, the connecting ring being depressed adjacent the periphery of the upwardly extending wall and extending outwardly and upwardly from a point near the top of the upwardly extending wall to form an annular gutter, a rotary table having a circular top and a depending annular wall of smaller diameter than the top, the lower end of the depending wall being receivable in the upwardly extending wall, a ring extending outwardly from the depending wall, a retaining ring removably secured to the connecting ring and extending inwardly therefrom, above the annular gutter, adapted to slidably engage the outwardly extending ring to retain the rotary table in the base, bearings positioned above and supported by the retaining ring adapted to rotatably support the rotary table, a ring gear secured to the under side of the table top adjacent its periphery, a horizontally disposed drive shaft rotatably mounted in the base and a pinion gear secured to one end of the drive shaft and rotatable therewith, the pinion gear being adapted to engage the ring gear to rotate the rotary table, the center line of the bearings being in a horizontal plane which is not lower than the lowermost extremity of the teeth of the ring gear, the base having a bottom and side walls formin with the upwardly extending wall of the well, an oil reservoir partially enclosing the pinion gear and a discharge opening being formed in the annular gutter, the discharge opening communicating with the oil reservoir, the arrangement being such that in operation the pinion gear picks up oil from the oil reservoir and carries it upwardly to the ring gear, a part of the oil being splashed over the bearings and at least a part of the oil draining from the bearings being collected in the annular gutter and returned to the oil reservoir thru the discharge opening.

JOHN D. BENNETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

